The Diplomat
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, yesterday thanked the institutions of the European Union for their support for Spain and their “forceful and firm” response in the context of the “crisis” that took place last week in Ceuta with the “massive arrivals” of migrants, and also called on Morocco to respect Spain’s borders.
On his arrival at the meeting of heads of state and government in Brussels, Sánchez stated that this is a “crisis without precedent in recent years” between “the EU and Morocco”, and took the opportunity to tell the Maghreb country that it has “no better or greater ally” within the EU than Spain to defend its “strategic interests”.
He also urged Rabat to “base” the relationship on the principles of “trust and respect” for the European and Spanish borders in Ceuta and Melilla.
Hours earlier, on Sunday, the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Naser Bourita, accused Spain of being responsible for “creating” the crisis caused by the presence in our country of the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, and then wanting Europe to take it over.
“Spain did not consult Europe before taking decisions that affect Morocco’s interests. Spain did not consult Europe before breaching the Schengen criteria to accept the fraudulent entry of a person wanted by the Spanish justice system. Spain has created a crisis and now wants Europe to take it on,” Bourita said in an interview with French broadcaster Europa1.
